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§3157. Classifications.

(a) Passenger tramways include all devices that carry, pull or push passengers along a level or inclined path (excluding elevators) by means of a haul rope or other flexible element that is driven by a power unit remaining essentially at a single location.

(b) Passenger Tramways are classified into one of the following four types:

(1) Reversible Aerial Tramway. A tramway on which the passengers are transported in a cable-supported carrier and is not in contact with the ground or snow surface, and in which the carriers reciprocate between terminals.

(A) Single-Reversible Tramway. A tramway having a single carrier, or single group of carriers, that moves back and forth between terminals on a single path of travel. This type is sometimes called "to-and-fro" aerial tramway.

(B) Double-Reversible Tramway. A tramway having two carriers, or two groups of carriers, that oscillate back and forth between terminals on two paths of travel. This type is sometimes called "jig-back" aerial tramway.

(2) Aerial Lift. A tramway on which passengers are transported in gondolas or on chairs that circulate around terminals without reversing the travel path.

(A) Detachable Grip Lifts. A detachable grip lift is an aerial lift on which carriers alternately attach to and detach from a moving haul rope. The tramway system may be monocable or bicable.

(B) Fixed Grip Lifts. A fixed grip lift is an aerial lift in which carriers remain attached to a haul rope. The tramway system may be either continuous or intermittent circulating, and either monocable or bicable.

(c) Surface Lifts. A surface lift is a tramway on which the passengers are propelled by means of a circulating overhead wire rope while remaining in contact with the ground or snow surface. Transportation is limited to one direction. Connection between the passengers and the wire rope is by means of a device attached to and circulating with the haul rope known as a "towing outfit." Surface lifts include T-bars, J-bars, and platters.

(1) T-bar Lifts. That type of lift on which the device between the haul rope and passengers forms the shape of an inverted "T" propelling passengers located on both sides of the stem of the "T."

(2) J-bar Lifts. That type of lift on which the device between the haul rope and passenger is in the general form of a "J," propelling a single passenger located on the one side of the stem of the "J."

(3) Platter Lifts. That type of lift on which the device between the haul rope and passenger is a single stem with a platter (or disk) attached to the lower end of the stem, propelling the passenger astride the stem of the platter (or disk).

(d) Rope Tows. A rope tow is a tramway on which the passengers grasp the circulating haul rope, or a handle attached to a circulating rope, and are propelled by the circulating haul rope while remaining in contact with the ground or snow surface. The haul rope remains adjacent to the track of the passengers and at an elevation that permits them to maintain their grasp on the haul rope, or handle, throughout that portion of the tow length that is designed to be traveled.